𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙋𝙄𝙇𝘼𝙏𝙄𝙊𝙉 𝙊𝙁 𝙎𝙃𝙊𝙍𝙏 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙄𝙀𝙎

INCAPABLE

INCAPABLE

"Naomi, if you find this man pathetic of his disability, you can help him in some other ways. Not through marriage," said her brother with so much authority notwithstanding my presence.

Naomi, seated on the adjacent chair was staring facedown, implicitly concurring to the scolds. I could tell she was tearing, though I could barely see her eyes. Damn, heaven knew how I wanted to embrace her.

"He doesn't even look like he can feed himself. At this age, he's still living in his aunt's household with no stable job," her father added with defiance visible in his face.

"What do you think will you feed her? You both are deciding in haste!" he blurted as he turned to me.

Their words were indurate but I took it all and remained silent. In the corners of their home echoed obnoxious insults I swallowed without any complaint. I let them crush my being. It was for her, I thought. Having her for a lifetime would be worth it.

It had been weeks since I entered their door to win Naomi's kins. They were all against us but I knew I could convince them later on.

We hadn't met since then. But I was positive. I waited patiently.

The next day, she showed herself up looking so elegant with her simple white dress. I rushed with my cratches to meet her, I almost stumbled down. I was delighted by her sudden visit.

We sat on the wooden bench near the garden. I was grinning ear to ear.

"How are you, my love? It has been a while since I last talked to you. I wasn't able to see you because aunt Gina left me here alone to guard the house. They attended a relative's burial," I explained.

She didn't respond. Instead, she faced me and I noticed her eyes. They were puffy. They look so weary.

"Jacob."

The way she spoke my name sent tension to my nerves. I dreaded the words that would follow.

"I-I'm ending this u-up," she hardly uttered, followed by a loud sob.

I felt my smile slowly fading. I felt numb all of a sudden. Her words weren't sinking in me. I hadn't understood them instantly as though they were told with a different language. I couldn't move nor could think of a word to say. I was nailed in place.

"I misheard you, my love," I said gently in my stun.

"I'm s-sorry Jacob."

I bursted into tears. My shoulders felt so heavy. My heart palpitated. The world stopped turning for a while. I gasped. What she just said was ridiculous to hear.

"What have I done? What did they tell you? Love? E-enlighten me please," I implored as I crawled down her feet.

She covered her mouth with her palm, trying to prevent her cry's noise from escaping. Her eyes were reluctant to meet mine.

"Maybe t-they're right. J-jacob, we can't be together. We are blinded. We just can't jump in, not considering the possible consequences w-waiting for us. You deserve b-better and I do so too."

"But we can face it t-together, love. We can make it if we stick with each other, as how we did it b-before" I faintly persuaded her.

For a moment, we let silence consume the gloomy ambience. Our minds were in turmoil.

I didn't understand her for I didn't try to. It was unacceptable. It was abrupt. I didn't see it coming. And I didn't expect her, the woman who once professed she loved me so much, to make such choice. It was devastating. For the instance, I wished I was deaf. I wished I was just dreaming.

"But you love me, don't you?" I asked firmly, directly staring at her.

"Of cours-"

"Then why not take the risk with me? Why not trust me in this?"

"B-because it's not our game to win Jacob! Fate's not with us. S-some things are not meant to be. Our love is illicit in this world. We're incompatible," she said and tears, again rolled down to her soft cheeks.

"But we always have choices," I voiced and held her shaking hand tightly near my lips.

"E-enough of this. I've cleared things out. That is all I have to say. I n-need to go."

She took her hand, wiped her face and stood up.

"What do I have to do?" I stayed still in my place.

"Nothing can change my mind," she said with emphasis, facing away from me.

"I promise I'll do everything Naomi. Just tell me what to do," I beseeched once more.

"You can't cure yourself Jacob. You're forever paralyzed and you can't change that."

I was taken aback. I felt stabbed, looking at her with disbelief. With that, she took her steps away. I didn't follow her. Not just because I was hurt but because I literally couldn't. She walked too fast. No more words. I was left on the ground, annihilated, with crushed heart and gushing tears.

I loathed myself more, blaming why I had to be born crippled. Asking if I deserved all those torments. Thinking why I had to lose the only person who made me feel accepted. Who loved me for who I am.

I silently wept in the corner with the nostalgic thought of her. It has been 6 years since she dumped me out, but every detail of the love we shared remains vivid in my mind. And it will surely stay forever remembered.

For now, I'm pleased to know that she's in bliss with her own family. In the arms of her better man. Her man who can dance with her, carry her, and walk with her. A man who's way more capable to do things an incapacitated person like me can never. A man of her dreams. A man she longed for. I am very proud of her for making the best decision of forestalling herself from falling in a hole of misery with me. And I too made my right choice to close my heart eternally, as I would never love any other woman as much as I loved her.